CHRIS CORNELL TALKS ABOUT DRUG USE IN ROCK & ROLL

Since news is pretty dry, here’s another excerpt from Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell’s new interview with Details magazine.

Q: After Soundgarden broke up, you were a pretty serious substance abuser. What was your drug of choice?A: When I transitioned into adulthood – High-stakes emotional responsibilities – I did everything I could to get my hands on. It happened without me really noticing it. The thing is, when you pick up the pipe for the 1st time, you don’t know that that’s your fate. The moment isn’t that dramatic. And then that was it – I didn’t want to care anymore.

Q: No offense, but why are grunge bands’ drug stories so much more depressing than the 70′s rock gods?A: Right? Those bands somehow had the ability to be completely fucked up all the time and still function. They could play an amazing guitar solo even though they could barely walk. The 80′s killed that – everyone was doing coke. If you see interviews w/ some of the stars of MTV’s early years, those guys look WORKED OVER. Duran Duran? They went through hell too.

Bio: Brett hosted the BWR podcast from 2004 to 2009, and then opened GrungeReport.net in May 2009. The site changed its name to AlternativeNation.net in June 2013. Brett also owns Concertfy.com. Reach out to Brett at; brett (at) alternativenation.net

Q:There’s been a lot of talk recently, most of it negative, about the current state of rock music. What’s your take, is rock dead?
CC: It’s definitely lost its place at the center of the musical universe. Rock never meant the same thing to everyone, but when I was growing up in the late 70?s, everyone could identify the 5, 10 bands that formed the center. Even if you preferred the fringe – The Clash, over say Van Halen – you still knew what the center was. Now kids turn on the radio and hear Eminem or Kanye, so thats what they gravitate towards. They’re making music on iPhones. Everything’s fractured. The reason there’s no modern day Shakespeare is because he didn’t have anything to do except sit in a room with a candle and think.

Q: You’re 47. What makes you feel old these days?
CC: Topics like this. The inclination to think that the world was better when I was a kid.

Q: SG has reunited, along with nearly other band that had a video on Buzz bin during the Clinton Administration. Do you worry that people might question your motivation?
CC: Honestly, I don’t really care. People can be cynical if they want. I would never go out of my way to convince them of our sincerity. If people come to our shows, I think they’ll see it’s for the right reasons.

Q: How’s your hairline holding up?
CC: It hasn’t changed much, really. I have some gray. But my grandfatheron my dad’s side, he looked like Fred Flintstone. Fred Flintstone had a GOOD head of hair.

Q: What were you like growing up?
CC: Wild. And reclusive. Sometime between 12 and 14 I smoked PCPC and had a real bad reaction. By the time I was high-school age, I didn’t want to do drugs anymore, so I went a couple years without having any friends. I got in touch with the creative process between the age of 14 and 16, mainly because I was alone so much.

Q: And yet you became a frontman. Did playing music change you?
CC: I was a nerdy shut-in who listened to prog-rock and then I got on stage. Most frontmen were not born hams like David Lee Roth. We’re more like Joey Ramone: awkward geeks who somehow find our place in the world on the stage. Nobody ever said a positive thing to me, ever, in my life until they heard me play music.

Q: I bet it helped you meet girls, too.
CC: Oh yeah. Initially, I was a drummer. and I remember standing somewhere in public with a pair of drumsticks, and these cute girls came up and started talking to me. We hadn’t even played yet! It was actually uncomfortable. I thought, “Is that all I have to do? Just HOLD drumsticks?” it immediately made me not like the girls.

Q: If you’d already been a ladies’ man, maybe you wouldn’t have had a problem with that.
CC: But someone who’s already popular wouldn’t become a rock star. If you have success as a youth – for example, you’re great @ baseball, you don’t have the time or inclination to be off in a corner. And I think the off-in-a-corner part, where nobody’s paying attention to you, is crucial.

Q: After SG broke up, you were a pretty serious substance abuser. What was your drug of choice?
CC: When I transitioned into adulthood – High-stakes emotional responsibilities – I did everything I could to get my hands on. It happened without me really noticing it. The thing is, when you pick up the pipe for the 1st time, you don’t know that that’s your fate. The moment isn’t that dramatic. And then that was it – I didn’t want to care anymore.

Q: No offense, but why are grunge bands’ drug stories so much more depressing than the 70?s rock gods?
CC: Right? Those bands somehow had the ability to be completely fucked up all the time and still function. They could play an amazing guitar solo even though they could barely walk. The 80?s killed that – everyone was doing coke. If you see interviews w/ some of the stars of MTV’s early years, those guys look WORKED OVER. Duran Duran? They went through hell too.

Q:Your oldest daughter is almost 12. Would you let her date a musician?
CC: It depends on the person. When I met my wife Vicki’s family, I had to go out of my way to convince them – to show them – that I wasn’t anything like their idea of a musician. But I’ve met many, MANY musicians that I wouldn’t let anywhere near my daughter. Or my son.

END.

Seriously?

Soooo taking each question and answer from this interview and trying to trun them into big news headlines day after day??? Even after the user above has posted this full interview on here twice now? Wow.

Junior

Soooo taking each question and answer from this interview and trying to trun them into big news headlines day after day??? Even after the user above has posted this full interview on here twice now? WOW.

Electric Fun

the man said it himself Junior, news is pretty dry so calm down

cosmicatomic

Awesome interview!

Junior

Pretty calm Electric, sorry, maybe a more relaxing font would help?!? SG working on a new album, AIC the same, PJ the same. Tours coming up, solo and bandtorus, Janes Addiciton has a new album out, Mark Lanegans killing his tour right now, nothing special going with that? No possible reviews or vids of performances? Cornell had to cancel his his gig for the Johnny Cash show, why was that? Sheperd stated that other drummers will want to “quite” when they hear what Cameron is doing on the new SG album? Can nwe get some details as to why he feels that way? etc…plenty of things to actually DIG UP and RESEARCH to get some us some news and details on things. But since every other site isn’t doing that research FOR HIM, the news is dry. Ok, I got it now.

billy

great interview, i find it funny that he’ll admit to PCP use, but i still havent seen him own up to the needle. He looks like he’s 60 pounds during the Euphoria Morning era.

i think some people are over-reacting. I think Brett does this site as a hobby. If he were able to connect with and interview these musicians himself then you could expect more, but i give him credit for giving us stuff to read everyday.

Electric Fun

nope still not calm enough Junior

Maverick785

Oh, you say you want news?

http://myspace.com/esbthemongrels eric

i cant wait for the new SG record!!! i hope that matt takes some of the SG energy into PJ. i want to hear some epic records again! i love how chris pointed out that you’re inclined to think of your childhood as being better, but it’s actually true. i was 15 when the seattle scene exploded. it hasn’t gotten any better than that. i’m excited about the A.I.C. record,too. just hope that the new PJ is more inline with their classic albums. the last 2 have been ok, but nowhere near the caliber of the first 7. they still shred live, though. matt cameron has brought soooo much great energy into the band. i CAN NOT WAIT for the new SG!!!

Grungeluv

DRUG ABUSE IS NEVER NORMAL.

Grungeluv

AND WHO’S TO SAY THIS INTERVIEW IS ACCURATE?

krist chris cantrell

Cause I have the actual magazine and I had 20 minutes to type it up. I love the site so this was a way for me to say thank you. Bite me.

krist chris cantrell

Looks like he just cut and paste his blog piece from my syntax. All the typing is the same LOL.

GrungeAttack

krist chris cantrell said:

Looks like he just cut and paste his blog piece from my syntax. All the typing is the same LOL.

DAMN you mean you had to type all that and then a copy and paste job NO WAY! See wot drugs do to ya? Feel me On this I take many drugs I ams an expert drug man Pill Junkie from the past like The Cowboy!

Jesse

I feeel sort of terrible asking this but I must, … Does anyone else think that Cornell’s wife Vicky is unnattractive? I don;t get it. Cornell could have ANYONE he wanted with those looks and talent and fame and not to mention money, how vulger I know..but is it me or she just not up to snuff? Please don’t hate on me for asking, I just want to know what you guys think? Just Curious

Spoonman

From a mans opinion, Vicky does nothing at all for me, man she is not cute. I look at the current pictures of Chris and Vicky and they appear to be very sickyly looking. Especially Chris. It makes me think Chris might be back on drugs.He doesn’t look well.My bet is they are both partying again and chris is hittin the pipe again.I do really love all of his music, i grew up with it too, I am just observing…so don’t hate on me either!

Jesse

I haven’t been on this sight for a while, thanx for the response Spoonman. You are right, they do look so thin and sickly. I notice that they look orange lately, like they have been tanning a lot at a salon, not the sun. It makes you orange, that fake tan stuff. I love Cornell too and all of his music, I hope he is not back on the pipe!